Ware County dropped two of three games with the lone victory ending a fivegame losing streak.
The Lady Gators (7-15 overall, 4-3 Region 1-AAAAA) snapped their streak with a 15-0 victory in three innings Tuesday, September 22 in Savannah against region foe Jenkins (4-22, 2-7), losers of eight straight games, to complete the season sweep. Ware County beat the Lady Warriors 15-0 at home on the first day of the month WCHS fell 4-2 at Brunswick (7-16) a day later in a makeup of a game rained out August 24. The Lady Pirates entered having lost nine of their last 10 games.
Ware County wrapped up the week dropping a 12-7 decision Thursday, September 24 to visiting regionmate Statesboro (15-3, 6-2), winners of six straight, for a season split. The Lady Gators notched at 15-5 road victory September 3.
The Lady Gators are playing a pair of doubleheaders this week. Charlton County visted Monday, September 28. Ware County travels Thursday, October 1 to Augusta to tangle with region foe Richmond Academy.
Ware County closes out the regular season Monday, October 5 hosting Brunswick at 5:30 p.m.
Lady Gators ...............................15
Jenkins.......................................0
SAVANNAH — A 12-run first inning uprising decided the outcome early for the Lady Gators.
Cassidy Lee led the 14-hit onslaught with 11 players collecting a hit going 3for-3 driving in three runs. Reagan Middleton (2-for-2, double, RBI) was the only other player to record multiple hits.
Kara Coleman (1-for 2, triple) drove in a career-best four runs. Genesis Walker (1-for-1) and Natalie Pittman (1-for-1, triple) were credited with two runs batted in each.
Ware County sent 16 batters to the plate in the first inning with the first 12 reaching before an out was recorded. The Lady Gators scored off an error on a ball hit by Teriayn Kirkland (1-for-2), a bases loaded walk to Mattie Forsyth (1-for-1), two runs on Lee's first hit, two on a single by Walker, three on a bases-clearing triple by Coleman, an RBI double by Kirkland and a run-scoring single by Middleton and a final run on a single by Lee.
WCHS mercifully ended the inning having players step off the bases before a pitch for called outs.
The Lady Gators plated three runs in the top of the second for a 15-0 advantage. Pittman's two-run triple followed a leadoff walk to pinch-hitter Londyn Young and a double by Darah Durrance (1-for-1). Pittman scored on Coleman's ensuing groundout. Ware County ended the second inning with two runners stepping off bases.
Ware County recorded singles by Addi Pittman (1-for-2), Hannah Higginbotham (1-for-1) and Lee in the third with each called out for leaving early.
Meanwhile, Jenkins managed a first inning single off Middleton (1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 K, 0 BB). Forsyth twirled two innings of hitless relief with a strikeout.
Brunswick ..................................4
Lady Gators ................................2
BRUNSWICK — The Lady Pirates built a 4-0 lead through three innings and then held on to beat Ware County.
Brunswick did all of its damage in the third inning against Kirkland (5 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 3 K, 0 BB, 1 HBP, 1 WP) to break up a scoreless game. The Lady Pirates scored on a wild pitch, a two-out single and took advantage of a pair of run-scoring errors to extend the lead.
After the first 10 Ware County batters were retired in order, Kirkland (1-for-3) blasted a one-out homer in the fourth ending the no-hit and shutout bid cutting the deficit 4-1.
The Lady Gators capitalized on Coleman reaching on a one-out, two-base error in the sixth on a ball hit by Coleman. She raced home on Middleton's (1-for-3) two-out double pulling Ware County to within 4-2.
Lee's (1-for-3) one-out single allowed the Lady Gators to get the tying run to the plate in the top of the seventh.
Statesboro ..........................12
Lady Gators ..........................7
Statesboro scored the final six runs over the final three innings overcoming a 7-6 deficit in rallying past the Lady Gators.
Ware County built an early 3-0 lead, fell behind 4-3, tied the score at 4-apiece, trailed 6-4 and battled back for a 7-6 lead in a wild first four innings. The Lady Blue Devils tied the game with a run in the fifth and took the lead for good with a run in the sixth. They scored four insurance runs in the seventh.
WCHS's run in the first came on a Addi Pittman (1-for-3) groundout following Kirkland (1-for-2) getting hit by a pitch and Middleton (2-for-4) following with a double.
The Lady Gators extended the lead to 3-0 with a two-run second. Lee (2-for-4) opened the frame with a base hit, moved to second on Natalie Pittman's (1-for-3) sacrifice bunt and moved to third on a single by Walker (2-for-4). After Walker stole second, both runners raced home on a two-out error on a ball hit by Kirkland.
Statesboro battled back with a four-run third against Middleton (3 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 4 K, 3 BB, 2 HBP). Six consecutive batters reached after the first out with three scoring to tie the game at 3-apiece. The go-ahead run crossed the plate on a passed ball.
Ware County got one run back in the bottom of the inning tying the game at 4-all. Addi Pittman was hit by the first pitch, sacrificed to second by Coleman, swiped third and scored on Forsyth's groundout.
The Lady Blue Devils plated two runs in the top of the fourth to claim a 6-4 lead. Consecutive two-out singles were followed by a first-pitch, two-run double over a five-pitch sequence.
WCHS answered with three runs in its half of the inning after two outs and one on base to take a 7-6 advantage. Walker laced a one-out double and scored on Kirkland's two-out single. Maggie McQuaig, courtesy running for Kirkland, sprinted around the bases to score on Middleton's ensuing base hit tying the game at 6-apiece. Middleton, who took second on the throw to the plate, scored on Addie Pittman's single for the one-run advantage.
Statesboro tied the game at 7-all in the fifth on a two-out single off Kirkland (4 IP, 9 H, 7 R, 4 ER, 6 K, 0 BB, 1 HBP).
The Lady Blue Devils followed with a run in the sixth plating the run on the second of consecutive two-out singles to take an 8-7 lead.
Ware County threatened to tie the game in home half of the sixth getting a leadoff single from Durrance (1-for-3) and an ensuing walk to Kirkland. Consecutive strikeouts and a groundout squelched the threat.
SHS extended the margin to 12-7 with a four-run seventh, three crossing the plate on three run-scoring singles. An error allowed the first run of the inning.
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